Improvement in corkscrew and extractor combined



. N. OAK. Cork-Screw and Extractor Combined.

No. 196,761. Patented Nov. 6, I877.

WITNESSES I i /v7'o NATHANIEL OAK, or nxnrnn, MAINE;

IMPROVEMENT IN CORKSCREW AND EXTRACTOR COMBINED.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,7 61, datedNovember 6, 1877; application filed September 12, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL OAK, of Exeter, State of Maine, haveinvented a new and useful Corkscrew and (lork Extractor Combined, ofwhich the following is a specification:

This invention relates both to the class of instruments which areespecially designed to be used in extracting corks from the necks ofbottles or vials, in order to gain access to the liquid contents of suchvessels, and to the class of instruments which are designed to be usedin extracting corks from the body of the vessel, and which have beeninadvertently forced through the neck or narrow passage of ,the bottle,and which cannot be withdrawn without an instrument peculiarly adaptedto such office.

And my invention consists, essentially, in a corkscrew, the spiralportion of which is formed in any desired manner, and provided with ashank or shaft of sufficient length to reach the cork at the bottom ofthe vessel in which the instrument is to be used; an ordinary cross-heador handle being affixed to the shank, two disks of metal of a size topass freely through the bottle-neck being mounted to slide freely on theshank, and a plurality of pointed wires being secured rigidlyin suchdisks at equal distances from the shank or center, all being soconstructed and arranged that said disks and the wires secured thereinshall have a limited range of lineal adjustment relatively to thecentral shaft or shank, so that when the instrument is employed as acorkscrew proper, the spiral point may enter the cork to a limitedextent before the points of the surrounding wires are in contacttherewith, and are then forced into the cork by the action of the screw;but when used as a corkextractor the points may be first forced into thecork at the bottom of the bottle for the purpose of holding it inposition andpreventing it from rotating while the spiral portion isbeing forced therein by actuating the handle, all as will, by aid of theaccompanying drawings, be hereinafter fully described.

In said drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, showing the instrumentas being used to extract a cork from the interior of a bottle, the corkand bottle being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation ofthe instrument, but showing it as being used as a corkscrew proper, thecork and bottle-neck being shown in dotted lines. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 aretransverse sections taken, respectively, on the lines opposite to each.

In these views, a represents the spiral portion, and b is the shank orshaft of the same.

0 is the cross-head or handle affixed to shank b. d and e are disks,formed with a central hole of such size as to allow a free movement ofshank b therein. f g h are wires similar to b, which are pointed attheir lower extremities, and are rigidly secured in disks d e. Thus thedisks, with their pointed wires, have an end adjustment relatively toshank 1) equal to the difference between the distance from head 0 to theshoulder of screwa. as compared with the distance from one disk to theother, while the shaft 1), with its point and handle, revolves freely,independent of the disks and their wires.

When the instrument is to be used to extract a cork from the interior ofa bottle, the pointed wires are first inserted into the cork byforceexerted on the disk 6. Then, by means of handle 0, the screw is turnedinto the body of the cork, when it may be readily extracted.

When usedas a corkscrew, the part a is turned directly into the cork, asshown in Fig. 3, and by its advanced position and hold of the cork itreadily draws the points along with its subsequent penetration.

For convenience ofmanufacture part a may be formed as a separate portionfrom shank b, which is inserted into the larger body of a and brazed orsoldered therein, thus forming a shoulder for the lower disk to restupon.

Any desired number of outer wires may be employed. These wires not onlyserve to hold the cork in position for penetration, but prevent it fromsplitting, and give to the screw a firmer hold therein.

By forming the shank b and the surrounding wires of steel, theinstrument can be made adjustment relative to the central shaft, andlight, efl'ective, and=durable. r i to revolve thereon, allsubstantially as de- Icl ai m as my invention- 2 scribed. and-sl1cwn. A

Acdmbined corkscrew and extractor, formed NATHANIEL OAK. with a centralshaft with a spiral point and Witnesses: handle, withsurronndingpointeclwires mount- A. P. BAKER,

ed. in disks, andprovicled with limited lineal EL. OROWELL,

